Raymond Bird

Raymond (Ray) George Bird
Ray was born Dec 30, 1937 in Pocatello, Idaho to Ardis Hurst Bird and Victor Bird. He died August 24, 2025 in his home after a long illness.
Ray attended West High School and later received his GED.
He married Carolyn Skog in 1958. She preceded him in death March 2022.
They enjoyed many trips to Wendover or a week in Laughlin. Those trips will never be the same without both of them.
They had two children Terrielynn Johnson (David) and Ray G Bird Jr (Sherri). He loved his five grandchildren, Brandon (Kallee), Nathan (Scarlet), Ellie, Trey (Erika) and Keaton (Megan). Whether they were selling birdhouses at the framers market, talking Utah Jazz, building legos or sharing a beer he enjoyed each one of them. Later in life he became Pa to four great grandchildren Katie, Sky, Milo and Juliet, each of them made him smile.
Ray began working at Rio Grande Motorway in 1959, first on the dock and later learned to drive diesel truck. He enjoyed his job doing short runs throughout the state of Utah and Colorado. Later after Rio Grande closed its doors then he worked at Harrington Trucking until he retired.
During retirement he needed something to do, he worked with his son Ray Jr in his woodworking business.
Later he made and sold amazing birdhouses at the farmers market. During the week you would find him building as many birdhouses as he could. Checking every detail, cutting real shingles for the roof, checking with his family to get just the right colors, and building little fences out of dowels. On the weekend, he would load up his wares and head to Wheeler Farm or in Salt Lake at the Downtown Farmer's Market. He sold birdhouses as far away as South Carolina, Texas and Washington State. He sold several at Dee's on Redwood Road. Our thanks to Lisa, who always showed him so much kindness. We all have our special birdhouses made for us by Pa that will never go outside in the weather. He was Ray Bird the birdhouse man.
The Salt Lake Tribune made a video about how his Bird house business came to be and how much he enjoyed it, you can find it on youtube. https://youtu.be/xAwxQA8GRHY
Per Dad's request, his family will have a private gathering and toast him with a cold beer. If you knew Dad or appreciated his birdhouses, open a cold one and think of Ray. I'm sure it would make him smile.